4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313231353838 English NRW_DS23774 Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2025-03-07T15:01:49.421Z NRW 1.0 wel British National Grid (EPSG::27700) The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017 The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017 Statws a dosbarthiad chwilod y dom Rhysothorax rufa ac Onthophagus nuchicornis ar dwyni Cymru yn 2017 2018-05-01 NRW_DS121588 The Endangered Red Dune Crawler Rhysothorax rufa has only been recorded from a handful of dune systems in England and Wales, and has not been recorded in England for over fifteen years. In Wales, it is known from Kenfig Burrows, where a single adult was found on 20th July 1994, and from Merthyr Mawr Warren, where single adults were recorded in June 1981 and 21st May 2006. Adults feed on detritus in sand. A survey in 2017 failed to find the beetle at either location. Current management at both Kenfig Burrows and Merthyr Mawr Warren is considered sympathetic for the conservation of this species. The Vulnerable Dillwyn's Dung Beetle Onthophagus nuchicornis was formerly widespread across England and Wales. It has declined dramatically in England and is now known from just five of 30 previous locations, where it is recorded infrequently and often as single individuals. In Wales, it is restricted to coastal sand dune systems and there are records from fifteen sites, from Merthyr Mawr Warren in the south-east to Morfa Harlech in the north-west. Larvae can be found in the dung of a range of mammals but are probably dependent upon that of large herbivores such as cattle, ponies and sheep. A survey in 2017 of the known sites, utilising both hand-searching and baited pitfall traps, found Onthophagus nuchicornis at seven localities - Kenfig Burrows (975 adults), Merthyr Mawr Warren (36), Morfa Harlech (1), Oxwich Burrows (4), Pembrey Burrows (32), Pennard Burrows (4) and Whiteford Burrows (5). The population on Kenfig Burrows is the strongest in the UK. Elsewhere, absence and low population levels are strongly correlated to cessation of grazing and the quantity and quality of available dung. Management, including grazing regimes, are considered sympathetic for the conservation of this species at three sites (Kenfig Burrows, Merthyr Mawr Warren and Whiteford Burrows), although there is room for improvement. Increased access for cattle to mobile dunes and disturbed areas of open sand would undoubtedly benefit Onthophagus nuchicornis. Management recommendations are made for all currently-occupied sites. The Endangered Red Dune Crawler Rhysothorax rufa has only been recorded from a handful of dune systems in England and Wales, and has not been recorded in England for over fifteen years. In Wales, it is known from Kenfig Burrows, where a single adult was found on 20th July 1994, and from Merthyr Mawr Warren, where single adults were recorded in June 1981 and 21st May 2006. Adults feed on detritus in sand. A survey in 2017 failed to find the beetle at either location. Current management at both Kenfig Burrows and Merthyr Mawr Warren is considered sympathetic for the conservation of this species. The Vulnerable Dillwyn's Dung Beetle Onthophagus nuchicornis was formerly widespread across England and Wales. It has declined dramatically in England and is now known from just five of 30 previous locations, where it is recorded infrequently and often as single individuals. In Wales, it is restricted to coastal sand dune systems and there are records from fifteen sites, from Merthyr Mawr Warren in the south-east to Morfa Harlech in the north-west. Larvae can be found in the dung of a range of mammals but are probably dependent upon that of large herbivores such as cattle, ponies and sheep. A survey in 2017 of the known sites, utilising both hand-searching and baited pitfall traps, found Onthophagus nuchicornis at seven localities - Kenfig Burrows (975 adults), Merthyr Mawr Warren (36), Morfa Harlech (1), Oxwich Burrows (4), Pembrey Burrows (32), Pennard Burrows (4) and Whiteford Burrows (5). The population on Kenfig Burrows is the strongest in the UK. Elsewhere, absence and low population levels are strongly correlated to cessation of grazing and the quantity and quality of available dung. Management, including grazing regimes, are considered sympathetic for the conservation of this species at three sites (Kenfig Burrows, Merthyr Mawr Warren and Whiteford Burrows), although there is room for improvement. Increased access for cattle to mobile dunes and disturbed areas of open sand would undoubtedly benefit Onthophagus nuchicornis. Management recommendations are made for all currently-occupied sites. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Watkins Norton House, Ross Road, Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0LW ceri.watkins@queens.ox.ac.uk Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Habitats and biotopes Species distribution Protected sites GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme ecological surveys entomological survey invertebrate surveys Onthophagus nuchicornis Rhysothorax rufa NRW Thesaurus NRW Thesaurus 2023-12-31 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2024-06-19 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.rdf+xml IPSV Subjects List IPSV Subjects List 2020-11-18 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.subjects NRW SMNR Keywords NRW SMNR Keywords 2024-06-26 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. English biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 Wales (WLS) -5.777741 -2.608865 51.240829 53.513067 2017-05-20 2017-06-18 The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017 Database [A] Records held within Welsh Invertebrate Database - Recorder 6 [B] PDF of the report is available. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Surveys were by visual searches and baited pitfall traps. Surveys were by visual searches and baited pitfall traps.